Q: is it ethical to give someone drugs to try to "cure" down syndrome?

Down syndrome: In general this would seem to fall under quackery. Down syndrome is a problem in the chromosomes(basic human building blocks ) , this cannot be fixed by drugs. Example of how things might change: http://www.Nature.Com/news/researchers-turn-off-down-s-syndrome-genes-1.13406. This is not giving someone "medicine, " this is trying to treat the problem at it's very origin origin.

Q: if someone in your family has down syndrome, is there a larger risk that your baby will have down syndrome?

Slight risk: Most Down syndrome is sporadic. A few patients with Down syndrome have the extra 21 chromosome translocated on to another chromosome. In some of these cases the parents can carry the translocated chromosome in a balanced form and they and other family members could be at increased risk to have children with the syndrome.

Q: can someone carry the gene for down syndrome but not have downs?

Not the usual form: The material that causes ds is not carried on genes like eye color or blood type. The features that define ds are present when an extra piece of the 21 chromosome ends up in a baby.That can happen if a whole extra 21 (95%) is present or just the extra piece. Rare.

Q: should someone test for down syndrome during pregnancy?

Screening for Down : Syndrome is offered to all pregnant women in the US, regardless of age. If screening test results + maternal age reveal a high risk for DS, diagnostic tests are offered. Risk for DS becomes significantly higher &amp; increases yearly beginning when women wil be 35 at the time of full-term delivery. Though screening for DS is highly recommended, pregnant women can choose not to have it done.

Question 1

i have a cousin who is down syndrome. is it true that they die at an early age? and that they don't live longer than 20 years?

Accepted Answer

Yes and No: The life span for individuals with Down syndrome is much shorter that that of general population.  However, many of them survives to reach age 40 now since major cardiac defects have been successsfully repaired in their infancy.

Question 2

what can be done to accommodate someone with down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Depends on age: Early Intervention from birth-3, special education services from 3-21, job training beginning at 14, ADA accommodations at work, SSI &amp; Medicaid are supports granted by law, though there are financial requirements for eligibility for the last two. Follow guidelines for health maintenance; recognize &amp; treat  psychiatric disorders; promote adaptive behaviors from early on. See www.ndss.org/.

Question 3

what are the mental limitations of someone with down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

About 70% of people : with DS have mild -moderate Intellectual Disability (ID) by standardized tests of abstract thinking, problem-solving, planning, academic learning, etc. &amp; of adaptive ability in  cognitive, social  &amp; practical areas. Mild ID = IQ 50-70; moderate ID = IQ 35-49. Some have IQ's in the Borderline Range of normal,  70-79; others, severe ID = IQ 20-34  or profound ID = IQ l&lt;20. See www.ndss.org for more.

Question 4

are there alternative therapies for the health issues of someone with down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Question confusing: The management of ds patients  includes a variety of therapies designed to maxamize outcome.Surgical repair of  defects, monitoring for associated illnesses, hormones if deficient & good nutrition are all standard. Any therapy with measurable results is worth trying. Worth considering;if stong enough to benefit it may also hurt.Beware of anyone who says the drs want to hide their "benificial rx.".

Question 5

how you tell if someone has down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Doc should recognise: Down syndrome is one of the most recognizable patterns of any chromosome defect ; one that most doctors can recognize. There are a variety of internet sites with lists of features. If you have concerns you should share them with your physician.A chromosome test can confirm or exclude the diagnosis.

Question 6

might someone have multiple instances of down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Yes...: The risk depends on the mechanism. Most Down syndrome is caused by extra copy of chromosome 21. The risk of having 2nd child with Down syndrome because of this mechanism is quite low (<1%). If translocation in dad is the cause, risk is 3%; if translocation is in mom, risk is 10-15%.

See:

http://www.Mayoclinic.Com/health/down-syndrome/ds00182/dsection=causes.

Question 7

is it ethical to give someone drugs to try to "cure" down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Down syndrome: In general this would seem to fall under quackery. Down syndrome is a problem in  the chromosomes(basic human building blocks ) , this cannot be fixed by drugs. Example of how things might change: http://www.Nature.Com/news/researchers-turn-off-down-s-syndrome-genes-1.13406.    This is not giving someone "medicine, " this is trying to treat the problem at it's very origin origin.

Question 8

if someone in your family has down syndrome, is there a larger risk that your baby will have down syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Slight risk: Most Down syndrome is sporadic. A few patients with Down syndrome have the extra 21 chromosome translocated on to another chromosome. In some of these cases the parents can carry the translocated chromosome in a balanced form and they and other family members could be at increased risk to have children with the syndrome.

Question 9

can someone carry the gene for down syndrome but not have downs?

Accepted Answer

Not the usual form: The material that causes ds is not carried on genes like eye color or blood type. The features that define ds are present when an extra  piece of the 21 chromosome ends up in a baby.That can happen if a whole extra 21 (95%) is present or just the extra piece. Rare.

Question 10

should someone test for down syndrome during pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Screening for Down : Syndrome is offered to all pregnant women in the US,  regardless of age.  If screening test results + maternal age reveal a high risk for DS, diagnostic tests are offered. Risk for DS becomes significantly higher &amp;  increases yearly beginning  when women wil be 35 at the time of full-term delivery. Though screening for DS is highly recommended, pregnant women  can choose not to have it done.

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Doctor answers about:

How long will someone with down syndrome live

A member asked:

I have a cousin who is down syndrome. is it true that they die at an early age? and that they don't live longer than 20 years?

A member asked:

What can be done to accommodate someone with down syndrome?

A member asked:

What are the mental limitations of someone with down syndrome?

A member asked:

Are there alternative therapies for the health issues of someone with down syndrome?

A member asked:

How you tell if someone has down syndrome?

A member asked:

Might someone have multiple instances of down syndrome?

A member asked:

Is it ethical to give someone drugs to try to "cure" down syndrome?

A member asked:

If someone in your family has down syndrome, is there a larger risk that your baby will have down syndrome?

A member asked:

Can someone carry the gene for down syndrome but not have downs?

A member asked:

Should someone test for down syndrome during pregnancy?

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